Can You Buy Your Way Into the Ivy League?

[WeEatBrainz]

Bill O'Reilly bought his way into Harvard.

[Anal3t1cia]

If I can pay way to into an Ivy league school, I WOULD! lol too bad that my parents don't have money and i have to work my ass off to go to UCLA.

[vivian333999]

of course, certain ppl buy their way in. but harvard has a big name because it has and produces so many talented ppl, not just spoilt ones.

[aznrunner]

Cornell.

[Twilightifyable]

Workers of the World Unite isn't just a slogan anymore" -Andy Stern

watch?v=WzG0xpkjWrA

.

"Proletarians of all countries, unite!" - Karl Marx & Engel's Manifesto of the Communist Party,1848, at Chp. 9.

watch?v=uD-h25evW3g

.

(Equal obligation of all to work in industrial armies [8th pt. of communist manifesto]) GOOGLE the others, because they are just as devastating.

.

Allen West 2012

[EllenLN100]

PS. I know that Stanford isn't in the Ivy League, I just used it as an example because I'm familiar with it

[EllenLN100]

It makes me angry when people don't apply to Ivy and other top schools because they think they can't pay for it. These people aren't aware of the reality that if you are accepted for your own merits, these schools will meet 100% of your demonstrated need! For example at Stanford, you generally get a full-ride if income is <$60,000, and pay 10% of your income if it is <$130,000.

The argument of top schools being too expensive for the lower/middle classes is moot.

[The310toYumaIsOnTime]

@EllenLN100 when you're family makes less than 60k, you're working at Target to pay for your clothing and to participate in basic social activities. When you work while you're in school, you don't have much time to study. In addition, MONEY CAN SCIENTIFICALLY REDUCE STRESS. Less stress = better academic performance. Your parents make more money, you have more academic advantages. You have more advantages, more successful ppl associate with u, and you make more money->your kids go to an ivy

[anak80]

Kinda funny since Ms. Levine went to COLUMBIA. HMMMM... here's a thought, put out a ridiculous idea, write a poorly written book on it, and then make money by SHOCKING people with unsupported trash based on loose stats and conspiracy theories. Good job Levine, you should work for Fox news.

[boogiebuddy01]

grades arent everything

[09californian]

Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc... All American universities. Open your eyes selfish Mickey mouse fans, you only have this universities because people pay for them, with money they own exploiting 3rd world countries, they are the biggest symbol of the colonization and bourgeois. Now, you come to me and say they are GOOD people. If you are so, then use your so-smart-and-humble brains somewhere else..PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTO UNI FOR THE WRONG REASONS.

[SasquatchMCR]

@09californian Yes there ARE people getting into these schools for the wrong reasons, but I was just at all these ivy league schools last week on college tours and they actually have amazing financial aid programs for students who aren't rich as fuck. A lot of the time, parents pay 10% to nothing of the tuition which includes food, dorms and study abroad programs. In many cases going to an Ivy league can be cheaper than a state university because of this. So there is a lot of hope. (:

[KMAN6000]

money and power go together money buys power

[socalsocal88]

I wish they would quit shoving diversity down our throats and admit more Americans. No wonder the country is going downhill.

[SkorpioD1991]

The Ivy League consists of the oldest universities in the nation...Being old, they also have some of the most alumni and thus higher endowments. But WHAT in the world is the connection between having a lot of money and being able to provide a good education? The most important things I have ever learned came free (or in the case of my time at Hillsdale College, at a modest cost) and, no, I'm not just talking about the abstract. Go on, Ivy League, keep selling out by suckling the Fed govt's teet.

[JohnRhysMusician]

@SkorpioD1991 Skorpio, Hillsdale College is a highly selective and very well regarded college. Many of the United States most prominent, some infamous, figures have attended Hillsdale.

[jaymthegenius]

Is that even a question worth asking? Of course, people do it all the time. Not only with inherited economic capital, but also with cultural capital. Speaking in ebonics, for instance, is a sure way to fail an admissions interview, even at a merely selective college.

[abinaderus]

Again, as a Harvard alum, I'll say something else. My room-mate paid someone $1500 to write his app for him. These "advisors" exist for the Ivy apps. Many students did this. I know. But it has almost ZERO to do with parents-only a TINY number of students have parents with that kind of clout, but being a legacy helps, as it SHOULD. The **KEY** to getting into Harvard, given you had a min 3.5+ GPA/min 2100+ SAT, is to show what makes you UNIQUE-something you DID, in-line with your future goals.

[bgrbsr]

tuberALEX

 i couldn't agree u more

[abinaderus]

No correlation between where you go to college and your career earnings? That is ridiculous. I went to Harvard, where starting salaries went up into the $200Ks! Try to get that at Everyman's University.

Every person I hung with at Harvard is now a millionaire. Every one of them! If you were in the Porcellian Club at Harvard, if you are not a millionaire by age 40, they GIVE you a million dollars! And they don't have to do this very often. The Harvard alums who WANT millions, get it.

[paulchandz]

@abinaderus in a less pompous and demeaning way... i agree. thats total fucking bullshit.

the reason those facts are skewed is that many harvard, yale, princeton, etc graduates go into non-profit work, and artistic endeavors. these career paths bring down the average numbers for the graduates of these schools. where-as most other schools don't have nearly those percentages.

when you graduate from those caliber schools and you are looking to make money, you make a lot of money.

[ShadowCrashed81]

@abinaderus I'm sorry but there are only so many millionaires. I'm calling you out.

[JohnBrody23]

If you're rich why not use your wealth to provide "options" that regular people can't get. this whole idea about the "morality", is bullshit, it's all subjective, just because you think it's wrong, doesn't mean the next person does, life isn't fair, people just have to deal with it. Wealth isn't the only advantage out there, but apparently it's the only one it's ok to bash. this woman is pathetic.

[thecookmaster]

most american universities are extremely overprices and they bias decisions about races and your level in society before excepting a student. Furthermore many schools have economical problems so they aren't able to accept international students. Additionally, how is the SAT a measure of intelligence? the american high school is a very easy school system and the admittance to colleges highly relies on your SAT score. Basically the educational system in America is inferior to the one in Europe.

[tuberALEX]

4:05 to 4:18 thats bullshit. the correlationa is 100%

[Paganel75]

In France, inscription to the University is almost free. In order to STAY at the University, you just have to get a diploma within your three first years (DEUG, for instance, which mort students get in two years). If I have to be operated by a brain ou heart surgeon, I definitely prefer to get the brightest one rather than the one who has the most fortunate parents.

[Daxter609]

If you really want to be successful then after college go to graduate school.

[jaymthegenius]

She means: "The best school for whom" 

[wjwildcat]

@lfil28

best comment I have seen. I hope you have posted out of your true sincere mind. YOu made great point in the end. We should spend more time on how to impact human society instead of thinking of how to make more money

[musicismycandy]

Ivies sure will provide you with a great education, but it doesn't matter if you don't go to an Ivy if you're motivated. It all comes from motivation - if you want it you can achieve it even if you didn't get into Princeton or Harvard, etc. The more I think of it, the more I realize that the majority of people apply at Ivies just for the prestige.

[WhyYouStealMyName]

Alright. I'll give the truth. Ivy League universities are definetely part of the best universities in the world to attend. They do not guarantee success however. If a student is accepted, their future success depends on how well they perform in the university and how well they socialise.

[WhyYouStealMyName]

@WhyYouStealMyName cont...

Someone I know who went to Harvard said for example, generally people from the same socio-economic status stick togather. The other thing to consider is, a lot of big players of other countries besides the US, DON'T GO TO American universities - and they're definetly successful (Hu Jintao, Kevin Rudd even Warren Buffett)...

[feynand]

I know someone who got a 2400 on the SAT and had a high GPA yet she didn't get into any IVYs.

[ShaneyElderberry]

@feynand

The hard part about trying to get into a ivy league school is that they expect you do very well with academics, but also want the students to be "different" from the other students. So it's one thing to be great at school and testing, it's another to be great academically, and still find time for extra curricular activity, and social services like volunteer work. A lot of people stress out on keeping themselves busy all the time to prove that they are "different."

[TransmissionFilms]

@feynand

I know people like that too. Yet one of them was already a published author twice by 17!

[thientoan89]

The amazing thing about the Ivies is that they can take an ordinary student and empower them with knowledge and connections that ultimately result in academic and/or social success.

Who wouldn't want to attend the Ivy League? Please tell me your reason(s).

Poor? Financial aid

White and middle class? (blame your linage not the ivies)

Amazing SAT & GPA? that is standard, you're not special

life = competition

ivies = higher % of winning (not 100% but up there)

winning = power, money, & happy!

[alohabear09]

getting a degree in the ivy league helps you get a position in one of the best company there is like Google. Google is the best company to work for so they hire whom they think is the best candidate and those are the ones who graduated from a top university. former president clinton's mass higher education is what set the standard of some colleges low that's why companies do look at the university/college you attended. college isn't just for everyone.

[zenwithahug]

I saw you speak a year ago at Marin Catholic. I am so glad I did. Your points ring so true with me - a local parent. Hoping you (or at least your parent clientele) will be attending the Race to Nowhere screening at the Lark on Monday. I have four kids and have no interest in putting them through this kind of crap. I also know plenty of Notre Dame and Stanford Grads selling retail and Avon. There's a testimony for you...

[idwoof]

Bullshit!

Imagine the associations one makes at a highly selective university. Imagine the intellectual benefits of a forum where EVERYONE is bright and motivated. Imagine the affirmation that comes from being at a top college; knowing that you are choice, you are worth it, you are the intellectual vanguard. Imagine how powerful it is to tell yourself and others that your degree is from any of the highly selective schools.

Stomps shit out of good ole community college, doesn't it?

[thoughtyoudlike2know]

Nope! You old world thinking is why we end up with idiots like George W. Bush as president. If they put ivy league courses online & offered them to the masses everyone would see what a farce it all is. Some of the smartest people I know didn't go to university while some people I know who did aren't nearly as intelligent as they think they are...

[thoughtyoudlike2know]

...How do we measure intelligence anyways? People with savantism often can't dress themselves, but display profound abilities in other areas. Like play music on a piano that they hear for the first time, note for note, to perfection.

[tvo1688]

Um...she referenced that statement about the correlation like 5 seconds after she said it.

LOL!

Listen and/or research for yourself!

[20juli2008]

This is a reall problem of you americans. somehow you praise these elite schools as the garantied way to success. that is just not true. the reason why these unis are so famous is because they market themselves very good as the oldest and best. and the hype in the media does the rest. look at europe. our universities are much older and great aswell, but there are no "mind controllers".

[emerset]

@20juli2008

What about Oxbridge?

They are the two kings!

[20juli2008]

@emerset of course cambridge and oxford are excellent universities. but thats not my point. i meant nobody says here in europe, that these unis are necessary for a successful life. i just visited the medical school of heidelberg, on eof the best in the world, but they didnt stood there and said: ive we dont accept you here, you wont be successful.

[Juggernaut004]

You don't need to be rich to get into an Ivy League school. My friend is attending Harvard, and he isn't getting all 100% straight A's like a motherfucker. It doesn't matter the university, it matters on the student's ambition to succeed and take their degree somewhere. And if it's money you're worried about, look at it this way: he went to Harvard and has to pay full tuition and I went to a state college for free, from a scholarship. ANYONE can get it, it's only a matter of IF you want to.

[mhenry14tx]

you dont have to be rich to go to an ivy, i know a person, my friend, who is going to harvard on a full ride =] and no, she didnt score perfect on the SAT's.... missed 2 questions, lol

[doukavrisi]

My son applied and was rejected from Ivy schools.

In visiting few of the Ivy schools I could see the propaganda and the mind games they are playing on the insecurities of the poor parents and students.

My son was accepted and choose a state college and entered Medical school where he competes with the graduates of many Ivy league schools. While he is honoring every course he takes, the Ivy Graduates are struggling. I FULLY AGREE WITH THE VIDEO ABOVE.

IVYS NOT BETTER THAN GOOD STATE SCHOOLS

[bluffking101]

Tell yourself whatever you want, my son gets better grades than Ivy kids, my son is happier, but when this woman said there is 0 correlation between the school you attend and your salary she's talking out of her ass. I have no idea where she got that data from. Seems like she made it up on the spot to appease parents like you. The Ivy's are the most selective schools on earth. They are prestigious and famous for a reason. Grow up.

[jamiecago]

just one example doesn't mean it's a reality. Students from Ivies are definitely more smarter. Take any 1% of Harvard and..let's say the UCLA, and I bet harvard can ground UCLA boys in every intellectual way.

[brianng999]

um. The reason why your friend probably didn't get into the IVY league school is because almost everyone applying is like scoring just as high marks. It isn't all about SAT scores...being american you should know that...its about extra-curricular and community work stuff.

You don't have to be rich in order to score high and do extra "special" stuff. Admittedly its harder...rich kids are nurtured better, but very possible

[brianng999]

uh thats just your opinion..you sound a little anti-intellectual no offense.

So what if all the dumb people don't like you..do you need their praise in the first place?

The world needs more smart people; keep up the good work, IVY league schools!

[cagronomy]

Sometimes it takes more than just reading books. Sometimes it takes actually performing the tasks yourself which can be quite expensive and only can be obtained in a university setting. Not to mention having people around w/ experience helps speed along the process of learning because you don't need to go down nearly as many dead-ends. Why do you think people even learn from teachers? And yes, Ivy Leagues in general do give an excellent and probably the best education possible.

[blah0492]

this is NOT a good representation of the ivy league. probably less than 2% of students at those schools are there because of connections. almost everybody there is incredibly accomplished and intelligent.

[eeClaytonification]

lol my mother wanted me to be successful, not happy :P

[KevinRomero]

That sucks.

[mizzoulibertarian]

I have come up with a plan that would bring about a more peaceful foreign policy. All able bodied americans who attend a ivy league school, the university of chicago, or have a relative in congress who sends americans of to war must do 4 tours in iraq or Afghanistan. also if we attack iran they must be put on the front line.

[SSHHMEEE]

That is a damn good idea. If the elites and politicians had their sons and daughters in harms way it would put an end to costly and questionable wars .

[aha45]

Ifil28 speaks the truth.

[billoakesattablthree]

If one is ambitious they will do well in life regardless of school graduated from and at some point success will be based on job performance. In the work I do school graduated from is not a determinate of success. I think what is most important is that the individual not only keep their work skills up but also keeps a keen interest in learning about the world with regard to science , art , literature , and social issues. These endeavors also seem to give more meaning and happiness.

[KMAN6000]

I think this is fair. Money should help you get in. I would love to go to Harvard if I was a multimillionaire and get a degree.

[rollex10]

wonder i didn't get into Harvard even though i had 4.3 GPA in high school!!!! screw united states ivy league i am going for oxford university in England. hopefully this does not happen there.

[MOTOCASS]

Save your money. Only 40 % of the undergraduate courses are taught by Ph.D'S in the Ivy league. Now if you are a graduate student.... STAPLE THAT CHECK TO THE APPLICATION!

[Hong5Chen]

hahahahaahahah AGREED.

[jenaki]

comment below addressed to hihobenhi

[Hong5Chen]

I think buying a person's place in a university is unethical, but I like the practice of giving the children of professors free tuition. Profs don't make much money at all - in fact, my highschool english teacher switched from teaching college students to highschool students because the pay was better for highschool teachers. And profs give so much to their universities, so I think they deserve a break from their employees in terms of tuition costs.

[Allpacallpa]

I think this woman is only envious, possibly because she didn't get tenured in an Ivy League school...

[aha45]

I think you're in denial. Well no, I don't know you. But she's totally right. High school students are so obsessed with getting into name brand colleges, they forget that learning and happiness are what's really important.

[JamesM23]

How do you know it's all about the money? Going to these schools gives you the opportunity to get fantastic jobs. Yes, people today distort things. Jesus, get over it. Who cares? Some people like to try in life. Just because you're bitter doesn't mean your cynicism makes you some amazing goddamn benefactor.

[Juicexlx]

The sad thing about this is that some bright and talented young students can't get into US colleges because the available space is beeing ripped off under their feet. I'm glad that I could enroll into 2 consecutive degrees (Chem&Eng) just because I wanted to, not because my parents bought my places there. I'm Canadian, so money doesn't have anything to do with beeing accepted or not in universities.

[newguy33X]

@Juicexlx So you really think that Medical, well-respected MBA, and Law schools don't take ANY notice of six or seven figure donors who have kids looking to get in? Maybe you were thinking about bachelour's degrees mainly. They can let in who they want, and if caught playing favourites, they can chalk it up to "creating a balanced campus population" or crap like that. Didn't UofT recently get caught skipping over more- talented Asians for other races?

[TomCat2800]

lol that was my high school (what you said about the AP and community work, and extra curriculars) Tell you what though, I actually cared about everything and I got into UofC, the rest in my AP's, Community Services, and Extra Curriculars applied to those schools but now attend state schools. Except for one who got into Dartmouth, but his parents went there and "donated" to the school...go figure...

[TomCat2800]

I'm so glad I actually worked my way into a top school without my parents help at all (in fact I'm compeletly on student aid and loans) I feel more deserved to be there. The majority of kids there are hard intellects too. But the rest shouldn't even be there, a bunch of arrogant kids thinking they're better than everyone.

[Themanoflogic]

what school u go 2

[TomCat2800]

University of Chicago, not an Ivy League but comparable. I'm an undergraduate there then hoping to go to medical school there. Great school! ^_^

[Themanoflogic]

yeaa i'm an ambitious sophomore in highschool and i wanna kno if i have what it takes. i was rank 1 of 400 last year but my activities weren't that great. i think i'll do well on the sats.. what rank were you at ur school?

[aha45]

Are the people pretty down-to-earth at UChicago?

[LordoftheKeyboard]

And if for some reason you are still not convinced, remember this. George Bush (the biggest moron in American politics after Palin) graduated from Yale and has an MBA from Harvard.

[Hong5Chen]

to lord of the keyboard: he may be a moron, but he managed to become president in spite of his idiocy. Now what does that say about the power of a great pedigree and a doubleX Ivy League education?

[Rickyrab]

That says more about Ivy League clannishness than it says about the quality of the Ivy League.

[LordoftheKeyboard]

I would not spend one extra penny to transfer from any University to an Ivy League. I have met like a 100 people over a period of 12 years who transfer3d from Washington State University and other schools to Ivy League and schools. All of those people said that they didnt see any difference between the Ivy League schools and others except that Ivy League schools are more expensive and that they are more difficult to get into. Quality/content of education is the SAME.

[obel90]

what?? schlips ?

[Mirthless79]

Children who go to an Ivy League school will never:

1.Worry about money.

2.Worry about people who dont have money.

3.Give money to people without money.

4.Know what its like to not have a silver platter.

5.Survive without their precious money.

If nukes went off and money wasnt a fator..and they were picking "squad leaders"

would you want the rustic family man who held a full time job at a local fatory to lead the way or the rich man who never ironed his own clothes??

[SedulousTurtle]

Ivy League alumni will give a larger percentage of their income and time to charities and other social causes than other college alumni and blue collar workers as well.

[TomCat2800]

That's a generalization that isn't true at all, please state your facts and research, and Mirthless, not all Ivy Leagues or top school students are arrogant rich kids, some are true intellects. They process reason and logic and don't end up as the points you listen below.

[aha45]

I don't know why people thumbs-downed your comment.

People that think the college you went to and the job you get define you are wrong. So are people that think that everyone that goes to an Ivy League school are arrogant halfwits.

[stormypup]

That is the biggest generalization I've ever seen on this website.

[JamesM23]

This is also a giant generalization.

[Completedisclosure]

Also, there actually was a study showing that going to a more prestigious or expensive college will mean that individual is likely to have higher earnings but that the SAT score median of a college is irrelevant. The study was based on the Barron's guide.

[Completedisclosure]

That comment about attaching a million dollar check to the application is a dumb one. They would send the check back to the individual or throw it in the garbage. They may or may not contact the parent and explain to them that the check is not relevant. Now, if you make a huge donation to the school, you may end up on a list for the large donors and potential donors, which will give you a bump, but it is by no means a guarantee.

[pedrowasup]

What your saying is not true. Why is it that someone like john f kennedys son got into all the ivy league universities, when it was medically proven the he had a.d.d. and im not saying that all people with add are stupid, but it is known that j f keneddys son was not very good academically and i believe that if it were not for his money or reputation he would have not even come close to getting accepted.

[Completedisclosure]

COMMENT: Why is it that someone like john f kennedys son got into all the ivy league universities, when it was medically proven the he had a.d.d.

RESPONSE: Money and fame are two very different things in admissions. Enrolling JFK's son gives the school publicity, lures more applicants, adds prestige (because people want to go to school with the elite), notoriety, strengthens the list of accomplished alumni in a de facto manner, etc. What school a celebrity chooses matters for the school's rep.

[tinygirl505]

Part of the function of Ivy League schools is to provide the smartest, most talented people with exposure to the wealthiest, most powerful people - whoever they may be. If you want a fabulous, fair education, you can go to Berkley; if you think it's important to go to college with someone who'll grow up to be the president (no matter how stupid he is), then go to Yale.

[thegoonist]

lol

[ariagia]

"Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced." —EINSTEIN

"It should be possible to explain the laws of physics to a barmaid. "

—EINSTEIN

"Most people say that is it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character."

—EINSTEIN

[egcartwr]

I'm currently a graduate student at Harvard and I also did my undergrad at Harvard. While many students -including myself- went to a public hs, the amount of Northeastern prep school students at Harvard is quite high. Most of the students are from wealthier families, but it is definitely a myth that you can simply buy your way into Harvard. Typical wealthy student may have graduated at the top of their class at Phillips Exeter...Derivative of wealth, sure...sole means of entry, absolutely not.

[Boasian]

Bottom line: Choose the school that fits, regardless of the label. While I'll be attending an Ivy for my MA, I went to a great public school for my BA. My decision-making in each case came down to the program offerings and the school atmosphere. It's sad that some people use schools as a status statement, but it's also sad that other people fail to see that sometimes an Ivy is the perfect place for a particular student.

[Ainethil]

Ive League universities are way over rated and for a reason. I know soooo many different people that transfered from "regular universities" to the Ivy Leage. All of them said that the quantity and quality of education was the same as that of regular universities. Additionally, they said that the challege level was pretty much the same. The only difference they saw was: It is way more difficult to get into the Ivy league and it costs way more money.

[renix]

I am a transfer to an Ivy and the difference is vast. Whoever told you that was full of it or didn't take advantage of anything when they transferred.

[cagronomy]

I agree with renix, their resources are much more vast and allows you to accomplish more, more easily.

[Switch1897]

I saw the study she's talking about. She's right; you should go to a University that fits you. I'm going to Colorado State right now and love it. There are lingering thoughts in the back of my mind if I can get the job I want (something in Intelligence gathering) even if I don't graduate from a top 50 or whatever school, but I can't predict that at this point.

[ehe101]

Well u can't blame ppl for wanting to be on top. It's how nature work.

[jenaki]

hey, think things through before going off and dissing your own school. doesn't speak well for you either. Acting like you did really gives the wrong impression of the kind of students at Brown. If you're bitter about your life, fix it yourself. Maybe you can transfer to MIT and "do well there", whatever you mean by that.

[streetgypsy44]

Bush went to YALE (and ivy) look how smart he is....

[WrAth2110]

She makes some valid points, like the pairing of student to school. From that, I can point out the view that I hold which is that parents who push their kids into certain paths of academia are retarding the thing that makes the Ivy League schools great. I am talking about, well, genius; that is the ability to push creativity on a foundation of intellect IMO. Forced academic performance retards that creativity aspect and dulls the intellectual foundation.

[nightpua]

This woman is laughable. This is the kind of kiddie show that reconciles people who did not get into ivy's. The fact of the matter is, you will have more opportunities comming from Harvard, than from San Francisco State.

[SiKChaos]

I agree with a lot, but there is one thing I don't agree with. The statistic that states there is no correlation between your salary and the school you go to is false. It must be. The stats are right there. Look at the average earnings first year out of Harvard Business School as opposed to the first year out of some community college or even a school that's not an ivy league and you'll get your answer.

[tokuqin]

Not unhappy with money !

Poor people know how to be happy,cause they don't have

enough money, they know what it means

I think ivy league guys must learn to be happy

with money.

[tokuqin]

financial freedom is the most important thing in our life.

The money wisdom is on 1$ bills.Annuit Coeptis.God looks and care for you if you have the money.Other wise you will be public prey and hard life.

if you want fullfilment, to be happy

academia is the wrong place

don't make useless academics rich

don't spend your money on dull economic books

what you gonna do after graduation

work like a donkey....

if you wanna be a donkey

you don't need spend grands.

[bumafide]

Very informative. For a greater in depth study of "how America's ruling class buys its way into elite colleges - and who gets left outside the gates," read Daniel Golden's The Price of Admission.

[powerbookg]

And the evidence of this is WHERE? I got into Yale without any stellar credentials, let alone money.

[noraklagrangian]

Getting into Yale without lots of money is not evidence that you can't get into Yale using lots of money.

[erustia1234]

My daughter got into Princeton.We knew we cannot afford an Ivy League. But we have a dream. Princeton took my daughter still.

Let me say to you Madeline, those parents would have donated their millions anyway after their kid is done.

It is so worth it. We still have a loan of $40k to pay. But it's so worth it. My daughter came out a much better person with network of friends from all over the world. If I have $10Million, I would gladly give $10M to Princeton.

[streetgypsy44]

Erustia1234, I hope you're right about the Princeton thing, im form one of the most economically represses parts of the country in Appalachia. Im wanting into medical science. But Im not free to live my dreams because I cant afford college.

Im applying to need-blinds soon. I do hope your right. Because if not im about to the point of taking up arms and shooting up a campus.

I feel very oppressed.

[cagronomy]

My finger slipped, I did not mean to "thumbs up" your comment because I think it's crazy.

[TomCat2800]

Madeline means parents "donating" to get their kids in there who aren't prestige and intelligent like your daughter, not the other way around.